Yesterday, there was talk of revolution.
Not a military revolution where the powerful of this world subject the weak of this world to their control. Rather, a revolution of another kind, one of grace, healing, hope and love. One that works for the weak instead of oppressing them. One that refuses to cast judgment and hopelessness upon the outcast and instead shares the good news of grace made possible by Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Have you considered whether or not you really want to be a part of such a thing?
I have to be honest. The extent of sacrifice modeled by Jesus for this dream is frightening. It cost him greatly to make the revolution of grace a reality. It cost him freedom. It cost him pain. It cost him comfort. Ultimately, it cost him his life. In view of this, I know that on my own, I’m not really ready for such a thing.
Are you? Be honest. Look into your heart. Is there a distance between God’s dream for the world and where your heart is really at? If so, you’re just like me.
So what do we do then? Do we just buckle down and pretend. Do we just grin and bear it because we feel guilty if we don’t? I don’t think that’s what God wants.
Remember, God’s dream is a dream of revolution; that revolution isn’t only in the world though, it is also a revolution of the heart. In calling you to this dream he is also calling you to reconsider your own heart and to place your heart into his care so that it might be changed, so that it might beat more closely to the rhythm of Jesus’ own heart.
Before any revolution in the world can happen, there must first be a revolution in your heart. Nothing happens in the world without it first happening in the heart. Jesus knows this, for from the heart both our words and actions spring forth (Matthew 12:35), sometimes for good, sometimes for less than good.
Dallas Willard, in The Renovation of the Heart, writes about this when he says: “…the greatest need you and I have – the greatest need of collective humanity – is renovation of our heart. That spiritual place within us from which outlook, choices, and actions have been formed by a world away from God. It must be transformed.”
So don’t worry if the thought of going all in, of sacrificing as part of Jesus’ revolution seems daunting. Don’t worry even if you really, really don’t want to be a part of it right now. Instead, simply realize what God already knows: your heart still needs a little (or a lot) of transformation.
Mine does, I’ll admit it gladly. Why? First, because it is true. The path laid out before us is daunting and the sacrifice will be great to go all in to this revolution. Second, because the knowledge that my heart needs further transformation drives me to the only solution available: looking to the Lord and asking him to renovate my heart as he sees fit.
And as we do, with hearts completely open and faces not hidden from him but turned toward him, we will see this promise come true: And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18, ESV
That’s the promise! That we might be transformed as we open up to the Lord, and not just transformed but transformed into the image of Christ! As that happens over the course of our lives, our hearts will naturally begin to desire more and more and more of the things he desires, including the revolution of grace and healing that requires so much sacrifice to enter into. Now that would be some renovation to the infrastructure of our hearts, wouldn’t it?
Response
Take some time today to pray or journal about the condition of your heart before the Lord. Be very honest. Open up to him. Then, pray that he would transform your heart as you hand it over to him willingly. Pray, also that he would lead you into revolution for the good of the world by reshaping your heart into one that hopes and dreams like his.
Traveling with you,
Pastor Reed
Related posts: